Guto Miguel becomes first Brazilian to win J500 title for a decade
Brazil’s Luis Guto Miguel and Alena Kovackova of Czechia claimed the biggest titles of their respective careers after conquering all before them at J500 Merida in Mexico at the weekend.
Guto Miguel claimed victory at his maiden J500, which are effectively a rung below Junior Grand Slams in stature, after defeating Keaton Hance of the United States in the boys’ final. He is now ranked a career-high No. 10 in the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings.
It builds upon the 16-year-old’s other titles during 2025 at J300 Repentigny and J300 Charleroi-Marcinelle, while he also reached the semi-finals of the US Open Junior Championships in September.
Guto Miguel is the first Brazilian player – boy or girl – to win a J500 title since former junior world No. 1 Orlando Luz lifted silverware at J500 Milan more than a decade ago in May 2015.
Incidentally, Joao Fonseca finished runner-up at J500 Criciuma in March 2023, which once again showcases the platform which the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors provides aspiring talent around the world.
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For Kovackova, meanwhile, victory in Merida represented her first singles title on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors for more than two years – since October 2023 at J300 Sanxenxo in Spain.
The 17-year-old has, however, won four doubles titles this season, including the US Open girls’ doubles title in September alongside her sister Jana. Her other titles came at J500 Milan, J300 Roehampton and J300 Zapopan.
Junior world No. 10 Kovackova only dropped one set all week in Merida and that was in the final against Victoria Luiza Barros, who earlier this year had a hit with Brazilian football legend Ronaldo.
She was also aiming to make it a twin success for Brazil in Mexico following Guto Miguel’s triumph, although Kovackova recovered from a set down to claim victory and seal an impressive title-win.
J500 Merida is the sixth of seven J500 tournaments, which provides premier playing opportunities for players on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, in 2025. The final J500 event of the season is J500 Fort Lauderdale from 8-14 December.